Manager Matt Taylor claims that Bristol Rovers are “playing catch up” in the January transfer window because the team hasn’t added any players yet.
Rovers lost 1-0 at home against Exeter on Tuesday, their fourth straight loss.
Taylor, who took office on December 1st, described it as “frustrating” that there weren’t more players added.
“We knew what we wanted in terms of positions the day we walked into the building,” he said to BBC Radio Bristol.
“We’re attempting to make up some ground. We’re responding to this market reactively since there’s nothing in place to look for and put those names on the table. That means it may take longer than you would like, but regrettably, time permits other clubs to be involved.
“That’s ultimately why we haven’t brought a player in this window, but we’re really trying as hard as we can.”
“Heavy around the ankles”
Taylor had anticipated that a new contract for forward Chris Martin, whose current one expires this week, would be finalized last week, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Martin, who had a sickness and missed the game against Exeter, has scored ten goals since joining the team in September.
“As far as I was aware it was agreed and ready to be signed going into the weekend,” Taylor stated. “I think it will be done, but there will be some concerns about why it hasn’t been done.
“With this group, we require assistance in terms
of the bodies.
“I’d like to do more, I think that’s a fair assessment. I don’t think any Bristol Rovers fan would deny that there’s certain positions on the pitch which we want to improve but we can’t.
“We must unite and take a stand. We must be heard. We’ve had a somewhat bad run lately. We have participated in every game, but we have also had to make up ground after being eliminated from every game early on.
Since Taylor took charge, Rovers have won three of their nine league games and are now in 13th place in League One, 15 points off of the top six.
With Connor Taylor and Josh Grant sidelined due to injury during the Exeter game, Taylor feels his “thin” squad is having an effect on performances. However, he is hopeful that Martin, George Friend, and James Wilson will be fit for Saturday’s home match against Oxford United.
We have weight around our shoulders and ankles when we play, and you
can see that – uncharacteristic errors, players who are capable of doing more, just the feel of the little run that we’re on at the moment and the pressure at home of having to chase a game,” he added.
“They’re the players we’ve got and they are weak at the moment, physically more than anything else.”
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